Places to Visit in Gokarna- A Lesser Known Paradise

A goal like running out of pages in your passport is a goal worth living for! One such place that will satisfy your urge to travel as well as your mind is Gokarna, Karnataka. You can go with your family, your gang of friends or just solo it up, and Gokarna will be perfect for it all! The best months for the destination are February, March, and October through December. To make your planning sessions much easier, we have listed down the top places to visit in Gokarna:

Must Visit Places to Visit in Gokarna

1. Kudle Beach

This is one of the top four beaches in Gokarna. Located 6km away, it is adorned with lovely cafes and small habitable huts for tourists. It is also a great destination for beach trekking. The best time to visit the beach is September to May.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Sunrise or Sunset time would be ideal.

2. Om Beach

Named so because of the shape of the beach, which is like the auspicious Om sign. It is one of the spiritual places in Gokarna. Apart from affordable accommodation, this beach is also replete with fun water sport activities such as speed boats, surfing, banana rides, etc. These activities make up the list of exciting things to do in Gokarna!

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Sunrise or Sunset time would be ideal.

3. Murudeshwara Temple – One of the best places to visit in Gokarna

Murudeshwara is another name of the Hindu god Shiva. The town of Murudeshwara holds the world’s second tallest Shiva statue, and the prestigious Murudeshwara temple. Built on the Kanduka Hill, the temple is surrounded on three sides by water.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 4-5 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings are the best time to visit the temple.

4. Mahabaleshvara Temple

One of the most important pilgrimage places in Karnataka, the Mahabaleswar Temple is of utmost significant in Hindu mythology. Legend has it that just one glimpse of the famous Linga the temple holds can shower scores of blessings on the visitor. The temple is built entirely using white granite stones in the Dravidian architectural style.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings would be ideal.

5. Half Moon Beach

This beach is a smaller beach, but its beauty is unparalleled. The setting surrounding this beach is minimalistic. The thing it is best known is swimming in the cool waters and leaving your worries behind.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Sunrise or Sunset time would be ideal.

6. Yaana

Known for its rock formations, Yaana is a popular pilgrimage destination. Adorned with caves, the heavy rains, scorching heat, and fast winds have shaped the jagged rocks surrounding the place, giving it a mystical appearance. What a marvelous spot in the list of places to visit in Gokarna!

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 4-5 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Winters would be ideal for a trek in these hills.

7. Sathodi Falls – One of the recommended places to visit in Gokarna

Formed at the culmination point of several streams, Sathodi Falls are the epitome of peace and quiet. Reaching there by car is problematic, so a trek and a picnic should be on your cards!

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 4-5 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Rainy season would be perfect, as the water in the falls is abundant.

8. Paradise Beach

Paradise beach is also known as the Full Moon Beach. Mostly covered in rocks, the white sand part of the beaches justifies their popularity among tourists.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 2-3 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Sunrise or Sunset time would be ideal.

Must Read: 10 Incredible Places To Visit In Mysore

9. Mirjan Fort

This fort has borne witness to plenty battles, joys of kings, and violence. Known for its architectural beauty, the structure preserves Islamic and Portuguese heritage influence till date.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings would be an ideal time.

10. Maha Ganapati Temple

Located a few meters from Mahabaleshwar Temple, it was built in honor of Lord Ganesh for succeeding to take the Atmalinga from Ravana. Legend says that people need to add this temple to their list of places to visit in Gokarna before going to the Mahabaleshwar Temple.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 4-5 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings would be ideal.

11. Bhadrakali Temple

Situated about one km from Gokarna, this temple was built to honor Goddess Uma from Indian mythology. She is worshipped at Mother Goddess Bhadrakali by devotees in Gokarna.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings would be ideal.

12. Apsarakonda

Apsarakonda is an unexplored town with a coastline flanked with mesmerizing blue waters. The word Apsarakonda means the pond of angels. Legend has it that nymphs of the heaven descended the earth to bathe under these waterfalls.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 4-5 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Rainy season would be ideal.

13. Gokarna Beach

This is the closest beach to the town of Gokarna. Flanked with the views of the rocky mountains on one side and the Arabian sea on the other, the beach is yet non-commercialized and hence offers peace and tranquility to the odd visitor. Definitely one of the crowd-favorite places to visit in Gokarna!

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Sunrise or Sunset time would be ideal.

Must Read: Top 10 Places To Visit In Karnataka

14. Kotitirtha

Kotitirtha is a sacred water body near Mahabaleshwara Temple and is known to believe one crore sacred springs. As it is surrounded by many temples, most devotees come to bathe in the tank before entering the temples.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings would be ideal.

15. Anshi National Park

The Anshi National Park is also known as the Kali Tiger Reserve. It is home to Bengal tigers, black panthers, and Indian elephants, among other distinctive flora and fauna.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings would be ideal, as you can take time and explore the places.

16. Taamragowri

Taamragowri is a well-known pilgrimage center in Gokarna. It is highly popular for the Shiva lingam. This idol is visible to the visitors once in 40 years when the Ashta Bandana Kumbhabhishekam is performed.

• Distance from Domestic Airport: The Dabolim Airport is the closest to Gokarna. It will take you 3-4 hours approximately to reach there.
• Best time to visit: Mornings or during the sunset time.

While travelers can exhaust their sightseeing and places to visit in Gokarna in a single day, to really let the culture and beauty sink in, a trip of two to three days is advisable. Can your cameras handle it! Check out the best Karnataka Holiday Packages of Thomas Cook.